Saturday, April 28, 2012

My USMNT Clipboard 3.0

We are just over five weeks away from the start of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and several things have changed since we last pulled up my depth chart. These have all been for a 4-3-3 set, but since Klinsi looks like settling on a 4-2-3-1, we'll just call that close enough and proceed as normal.Those in blue moved up from last time, those in black held position, the reds slipped and the green men switched positions:#1 - GKTim HowardBrad GuzanNick Rimando

This doesn't mean we've seen the last of Bill Hamid or Sean Johnson; just a standard veteran lean after a tough Olympic qualifying tourney for the youngsters.

#2 - RBSteve Cherundolo Michael ParkhurstJonathan Spector

Chandler effectively is the back-up at each spot on the right for me, but we'll list him later with the hope that he's not even needed at right back during early qualifying. Parkhurst won't work as a center back next to fellow (relative) shorty Cherundolo and he's improved his up-the-flank game in Denmark, so he slides over here.

#3 - RCBOguchi OnyewuClarence GoodsonChad Marshall

Gooch is back for Sporting and he has a month to get on point, so this position should be business as planned.And yes, that is a Marshall sighting; he's in form and knows the CONCACAF drill.That and his ball movement skills put him in ahead of George John.

#4 - LCBCarlos BocanegraTim Ream Zak Whitbread

Ream's recent play puts him above Whitbread, who seems to have suddenly fallen out of favor. Norwich City have dropped three straight with 11 goals leaked, so let's just assume it's temporary.

#5 - LBHeath PearceEric LichajEdgar Castillo

To answer your obvious question: I do not mind switching Lichaj to the left side of defense because his game is not dependent on crossing. He prefers to sprint at the area or shoot from distance, so moving him across doesn't cost anything. If he continues performing well defensively in EPL play, he will be in to start here. Castillo has cooled off a bit recently, hence the shift 'n' drop.

#6 - DMMaurice EduGeoff CameronKyle Beckerman

The injury to Daniel Williams opens a place and the RSL midfielder has opened the new season from the top shelf. When pushed to shove, however, the reality is Bradley (who is backed by more experience at the #8) can easily be shifted back a midfield place if Edu struggles or becomes unavailable for some reason.

#7 - RWLandon DonovanTimothy Chandler*Josh Gatt

The Chandler shift is not set in stone, but as he's now back on the wing for Der Club, it just seemed the proper thing to do with Gatt still awaiting his first cap (and left out of Olympic qualifying).

#8 - CMMichael BradleySacha KljestanJermaine Jones

Stuart Holden leaves the list. Combined with Jones' seeming insistence on yellow cards and passing inconsistency, it felt necessary to move Kljestan to this role. It's his day job at Anderlecht.... and did I mention that Jones can't go 90 minutes without getting in trouble with the law?

#9 - FJozy AltidoreEdson BuddleHerculez Gomez

Anybody still whining about Altidore being the striker needs a slap. Buddle ticks enough of the boxes to be the understudy. To be honest, I'm still not sure where to put Gomez in this system. The reality is his inclusion probably occurs in dire circumstance, which means he could be our 3-3-4 desperation forward... or push Dempsey to left wing... or be the bullpen catcher. Ugh, I just don't know what to do with him. There's always one of these guys, no matter what formation we're in. That's soccer life, even before we talk about a couple of MLS forwards who look eager to steal his place here.#10 - AMClint DempseyBenny FeilhaberFreddy Adu

Pretty straightforward, no?Three it-happening-makers, over and out.

#11 - LWFabian JohnsonBrek SheaJose Francisco Torres

Beasley could shake this tree early in qualifying and a few youngsters could do the same by the end. But for now, I'm standing pat here.

Yes, and he's listed on my near misses... but is it not a bit late to think he'd become an impact USMNT player by qualifier #1? Once we get into it winning I'd be more likely to give younger guys a shot. At the start, I want to know exactly what to expect from everyone.

Hate to call you on this but I've watched every lichaj performance for villa and cant recall a single long shot from him at LB. And in a 4-3-3 isn't it necessary for the fullbacks to be able to cross it from the flanks? Truth be told lichaj really hasn't gotten forward when he's on the left but he has a decent left foot chip cross. His goal came in the game when he played RB and Hutton was out (worst player I've ever seen in a Villa shirt IMO hopefully Eric starts there next year)

also, where is Mix? I'm guessing you're not a fan of his Olympic qualifying performances in the Canada and El Salvador? How have his performances been since joining Gent?

Oh and finally, one last point on Lichaj. From the perspective of a Villa fan it just seems like you are trying to over sell his attacking ability now since you've always been so against having a right footed LB. He's a very good defender on either side. He reads the game well and has fantastic recovery ability and athleticism. His biggest weakness when on the left is that he's not particularly comfortable crossing (especially first time) on his left foot and can get caught on the ball at times because of this, as a result he generally makes less runs forward. As I've said I think he's developed a decent stand up cross with his left foot if he has time and space to set himself up.

He can become a real attacking threat when he is on the right but at the same time I'd say his biggest weakness is getting caught up field too often and not knowing when to go forward and stay back, he's young and this is the kind of thing he has improved. It just means he ends up having to rely on his recovery ability too much. He's a good crosser and he generally makes good runs, he can be a threat in the box as well. He's got a great record of scoring goals for our reserves/youth teams.

My opinion: very good defensive fullback, he can be an attacking threat on the right or a solid defender on the left. If he continues to play well and improve I definitely think he be looked at as our long term starting LB even if right back is his best position, I assure you he would just be happy for a chance to represent our country again.

@Thomas - I'm right with you there on your assessment of Lichaj. His emergence has been one of the few bright spots in a positively dire season at Villa. I'm sure there will bumps in the road for him along the line, but I have high hopes for the lad.

And Hutton is just a disaster. I mean, I'm sure I've seen worse in a Villa shirt, but he's been consistently atrocious for us all season.

greg, can we wager the dempsey goal for fabian johnson at left back. so if the goal stands an own goal, you have to put fabian as starting left back on your next depth chart, and take torres down as left winger?

@ dikranovich: Hell no. Why would I do that? Those things are not even related.

And by the way, did you not see Johnson's utter, utter calamity day at left back this weekend? The guy is complicit on nearly every goal they allow. Frankly, I'm befuddled that he is still playing there, a decision which has harmed both their defense and their offense. It looks to me like a big lesson slapping US fans that want him at left back right in the face.

Mix could well go in the "Just Missed" crew, but right now he needs to sort out his club situation and we don't really need him at the moment. I was a fan of his Olympic showings up until he ran out of gas. He's only played a few games for Gent, one of which was a MOTM prizer.

I am not "against using a right-footed player on the left" or vice versa. I am vehemently against using a right-footed crossing machine (such as Chandler) on the left because it eliminates his best attributes as a player. I have been listing righty Orozco at left back, because as with Lichaj, he prefers driving at the area with the ball to crossing.

And as I said, he is bidding to take my starting spot there, but I'm not just handing it over for a handful of club games. Defensively, Lichaj still has a couple weak points that are slowly shoring up.

fabian johnson is bigger than i thought and he is fast. he showed good defensive instinct against italy and he was more than solid, regardless of how you rated him greg. based on that alone fabian gets another look at left back for the usmnt. which, should he recieve a call, will be his spot in the next friendly.

He showed good defensive instinct versus Italy? Ummm, when??? He was overrun for the opening half hour. He is so clearly a much better player as a winger. What is wrong with you? Even if you want him at left back, even if you wrote Santa a letter asking for that, you fully know he is better as an attacker. Everyone does. No one on Earth is going to protest that he is better as a wingback... except you, apparently.

ok greg, thats how you wanna play it. getting overrun is a 7-1 scoreline, thats getting overrun, jesus mary and joseph. i mean, god dang. please, bring me the germans that say heath pearce is a better left back then fabian johnson, please.

AND as I keep saying, I want to know exactly what I'm getting with the idea to tightly follow a game one script against a weak opponent. Let's not pretend this is my World Cup final line-up... it's my first qualifier line-up, which is a very different animal.

this cycle usa goes right into the qualifiers and there is no barbados two off. this first game is important and scoring and winning big is number one goal. johnson will maraud against a weak antigue, so why restrain the attack with pearce?

greg, you are getting away from the point, which is that johnson is a better left back than heath pearce. end of story son. live with it, and embrace it. for gods sake, you were claiming johnson to be right footed a couple of months ago

jay, what the f are you talking about? vapid means lacking liveliness. the only thing that even remotely makes this a lively web site is greg and i going at it. as for the tedious part, it probably is. well heath pearce cant stay on the top of the greg depth chart for long if he is not getting called into the national team.

greg, you are a usa soccer fan,no? so im guessing, greg would do what is best for us soccer. im rooting for fabian johnson to crush it next time he takes the lb spot, just like he did last time he was in the spot.

greg, can you actually believe greg tried to suggest that fabian johnson got over run by italy, is that not farcical, or what? it is gregs opinion though, so, it is his. whats the definition of momentum!!!

Who is NSC?

NSC is run by Greg Seltzer (MLSsoccer.com), who has reported on soccer across the globe since 2001, covering MLS, U.S. Men, Women & Youth national teams, World Cup, Gold Cup, U-20 World Cup, the UEFA European Championship, UEFA Champions League and Europa League, UEFA Cup, CONCACAF and UEFA qualifiers, Premiership, Bundesliga, Eredivisie, various second-tier leagues, domestic cups and international friendlies.